Tufts Holds Special Commencement for Softball Players

Tufts University held a special commencement ceremony Tuesday night for seniors from the NCAA-bound Women’s Softball team.

The Jumbos won an NCAA Regional game at Eastern Connecticut State University last weekend to qualify to play at the NCAA Finals in Virginia. Tournament play, which begins Friday, will prevent the team’s seniors from attending Tufts’ Commencement ceremonies on Sunday.

The graduation ceremony for Tufts scholar-athletes who miss Commencement due to competitions has become a tradition. The 2009 Tufts softball team, the 2010 men’s lacrosse team and the 2011 men’s lacrosse team all graduated at events hosted by prior Tufts President Lawrence J. Bacow, according to information released by Tufts.

Coach Cheryl Milligan’s 2012 softball team begins play at the NCAA Finals against Roanoke on Friday at 6:30 pm.

The special Commencement ceremony for the NCAA-bound Women’s Softball team seniors on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. From left, Katherine Darveau, E12, Lizzy Iuppa, E12, Bill O’Reilly, Jr., Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, Lena Cantone, A12, Tufts University President Anthony P. Monaco, Mira Lieman-Sifry, E12, and Brian Kavoogian, A84, Trustee. Photo by Alonso Nichols/Tufts University.

Mira Lieman-Sifry, E12, Lizzy Iuppa, E12, Katherine Darveau, E12, and Lena Cantone, A12, graduating members of the Tufts University Women’s Softball Team, sit together after a special Commencement ceremony in the Coolidge Room on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. They will head down to Salem, Virginia to compete in the NCAA, Div. III championship. Photo by Alonso Nichols/Tufts University.

– InsideMedford.com